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Master of Music in Opera Performance

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Key Policies

Full-time students must be enrolled in at least 8 credits per semester and may take up to 12 credits per semester without incurring any additional tuition charges. There are no tuition charges for required remedial courses.

No more than 6 credits earned at other institutions may be accepted toward the degree. Acceptance of transfer credit is by approval of the Dean following an appropriate recommendation by the Department Chair.

Students must earn at least a B- in all courses taken for graduate credit.

Upon matriculation Masters Degree candidates sit for proficiency examinations in Music Theory and Music History. These exams are designed to identify minimum competencies in both areas reflecting a normal undergraduate preparation in music. Any deficiencies revealed by these exams must be corrected within the first year in residence through successful completion of prescribed remedial courses in Ear Training, Harmony, or Music History. Opera majors may enroll in remedial courses without additional tuition charges.

It is expected that entering students will have completed at least a year of college-level study in two of the following languages: Italian, German or French. Competency in a language may also be demonstrated through examination and personal interviews. Students lacking one or both languages in their previous preparations will achieve the needed competency through language study in the first year of residency.

Non-native English speakers are evaluated upon matriculation and may be required to take specific English as a second language course work as part of their program. Students taking ESL are permitted to take certain courses in performance, but are not permitted to enroll in Introduction to Graduate Studies or Music History seminars until they have achieved sufficient written and speaking competencies in English. Master’s students assigned to ESL courses are required to complete the second semester of advanced ESL with a B- or better.

At the end of the 4th semester, students sit for a comprehensive, oral examination administered by a committee of the faculty. This examination is designed to assess a student’s ability to integrate his or her performance training with the research and analytical skills developed in the Music History curriculum, as well as with an appropriate level of theory and analysis skills. Each department publishes written guidelines defining the nature of the examination and what is expected of students preparing for it.